JLKP 6.1

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Table of Contents

6.1 Exploring Earth's Surface (back to homepage)
Vocabulary
topography- the shape of the land
elevation- the height above sea level of a point on Earth's surface
relief- the difference between the highest and lowest parts of an area
landform- a feature of topography formed by the processes that shape Earth's surface
landform region- a large area of land where the topography is similar
plain- a landform made up of flat or gentle rolling land with low relief
mountain- a landform with high elevation and relief
mountain range- a group of mountains closely related in shape, structure, and age
plateau- a landform with more or less level surface
lithosphere- Earth's solid, rocky outer layer
atmosphere- the outermost sphere
hydrosphere- Earth's oceans, lakes, rivers and ice
biosphere- all living things on Earth
Outline
Exploring Earth's Surface
  • Topography
    • there is different topography; elevation, relief, and landforms
      • Elevation
        • elevation is the height above sea level of a point on Earth's surface
      • Relief
        • the difference between the lowest and highest points of an area
          • plains have low relief
          • mountains might have high relief depending on the height of the mountains
      • Landforms
        • a feature of topography formed by the processes that shape Earth
          • there are different types of landforms
  • Types of Landforms
    • three main types of landforms
      • Plains
        • flat, "gentle" land
          • low relief
        • two types of plains
          • coastal plain
            • a plain that lies along a seacoast
            • have both low elevation and low relief
          • interior plain
            • a plain that lies away from the coast
            • low relief, but elevation can vary
      • Mountains
        • high elevation
        • are usually part of mountain ranges
          • mountains are part of mountain ranges
            • mountain ranges are part of mountain system
              • Bitterroot Mountains are a mountain range that are part of a mountain system known as the Rocky Mountains
                • mountain ranges and mountain systems in a long, connected chain form a larger unit called a mountain belt.
                  • Rocky Mountains are part of a great mountain belt that stretches don the western sides of North America and South America